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Hackers have stolen the names and address of thousands of nursery children.

Pictures of youngsters were also accessed by a gang of cyber criminals.

It's believed sensitive information, relating to around 8,000 children, was being used to demand a ransom from the Kido nursery chain.

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The chain has sites across London, India and the US, the Mirror reports.

The BBC said it was contacted by those responsible, and details of the online assault have been published on the gang's darknet website.

Hackers claim they have information on the children's parents and carers, including safeguarding notes, and it's believed they've contacted some parents to extort them.

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